wmfpa Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 Just got offered an interview with a peds private practice (the specialty I prefer) in a location I can see myself living in. However, I'm already seeing a couple of red flags: 1. No one that I've spoken to has thought about my travel arrangements. I'll be traveling about 900 miles to this interview, and as far as I know it's all on me. Waiting to hear from the owner of the practice to verify. 2. Was told over the phone that salary would be 75K with 2 weeks PTO, 2500 CME allowance. Not sure about other benefits yet. So... I've heard that (especially as a new grad) you can pick two of your three: location, specialty, or compensation. I haven't been offered the job of course, but if I'm footing a big bill to just make it to the interview, I have to ask now: How flexible should I be with the compensation if I pick specialty and location? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 If they won't pay to fly you down and get a hotel on their cost I'd tell them to do a Skype or phone interview so you can learn 1) are they interested in you or 2) are you interested in them. I wouldn't personally foot a bill just to interview somewhere but if they'll fly you then go check it out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 18, 2014 Moderator Share Posted August 18, 2014 only once have I had travel expenses covered for an interview, and that was with a major health care organization/HMO.. I think it is becoming a lot less common. I have interviewed for (and gotten) 2 out of area rural per diem jobs in the past 7 years. neither paid for my travel or hotel. I think if I had asked neither would have and I would not have gotten these excellent jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyM2 Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 EMEDPA has a good point but, if the interview costs them nothing, they can interview as many candidates as they want just to see what's out there. If you have to foot the bill, you need to have some idea that you are on the short list. What if you go to the interview and THEN they develop a short list and want you to come back? If you think they really want you and the interview is more of a formality, that's different. You need to assess your chances. Keep in mind that EMEDPA is highly knowledgeable and very experienced. He would be on anyone's short list. You are a new grad. Sent from my Kindle Fire HDX using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 20, 2014 Moderator Share Posted August 20, 2014 EMEDPA has a good point but, if the interview costs them nothing, they can interview as many candidates as they want just to see what's out there. If you have to foot the bill, you need to have some idea that you are on the short list. What if you go to the interview and THEN they develop a short list and want you to come back? If you think they really want you and the interview is more of a formality, that's different. You need to assess your chances. Keep in mind that EMEDPA is highly knowledgeable and very experienced. He would be on anyone's short list. You are a new grad. Sent from my Kindle Fire HDX using Tapatalk 2 the last interview I went to I WAS the short list, I just didn't know that then. Apparently this particular doc only interviews the individual he thinks he will hire based on an extensive review of their CV, background checks, speaking with references, etc. They generally hire 1 new person every 5-10 years. I know it took me about 10 yrs to get to the top of his list as I sent a CV/yr for a decade before I even got a call back. no one was hired in the prior 10 years. I think Dr Davenport was the last PA hired to work there. I know everyone else that works there and knew that I wanted to work there enough that salary never even came up during the interview. I didn't care at that point as this is arguably the best EMPA job in a 3 state area, maybe on the entire west coast. I knew they would pay me a fair wage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G. Davenport Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Ugh. I think I've always had travel expenses covered. At times for both my wife and me. Once I even brought two kids and the cost was met. :-). Sorry. I turned down an interview a few years back because they didn't cover cost (first time I'd had that happen). I think it speaks to what the future holds. Also, I believe we're in catbird seat. If you 're willing to move, there's a GREAT job that wants you. Oh and EMEDPA my friend I assume your talking about that rural ER. I really enjoyed it there. For me it was always solo. Often 12, 24, and rare 48 hour shifts (I don't think they do 24 or 48 anymore). Slept on site. Like a fireman there were times of boredom and times of. Oh my. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Eh everyone I spoke with out of state either offered to fly me down or arranged for a webcam interview. This has just been my experience and it may vary greatly state to state and I am by no means a special candidate. I'd at least want a good phone or webcam interview first if you pay to fly to make sure they're very interested and hear the pay benefits etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 20, 2014 Moderator Share Posted August 20, 2014 Oh and EMEDPA my friend I assume your talking about that rural ER. I really enjoyed it there. For me it was always solo. Often 12, 24, and rare 48 hour shifts (I don't think they do 24 or 48 anymore). Slept on site. Like a fireman there were times of boredom and times of. Oh my. yup, that's the place. still solo. they still do 24s there. typical volume is 12-14 pts/24 hrs, most on day shift. a busy night shift there is 6 in 12 hrs. 3 is more typical. hoping to be offered full time there when the current full time guy retires, but I am not at the top of the seniority list so the full time job may not be offered to me. I would probably still get a few more shifts/mo though and any days there are days I don't have to be at my full time gig(where I have cut down to 10 shifts/mo). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G. Davenport Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 If he ever retires. They would be silly to hire the other options :-). Maybe I should apply. Miss the NW. Just kidding ... About applying. Not about missing NW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmfpa Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 Thanks everyone for the advice! I spoke more with the doc and he said he doesn't pay for interview costs because there's a substantial sign on bonus... Which is great but only if I get the job, of course. He did make it sound like I'm on the short list, but I'm not entirely sure. At this point, I'm willing to do just about whatever it takes to get into peds, but wanted to make sure I wasn't getting taken advantage of, and that I won't be devaluing PAs as a profession by accepting those terms! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 20, 2014 Moderator Share Posted August 20, 2014 He's got to be 60. he was in one of the first classes at medex and was an rn for years first... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 20, 2014 Moderator Share Posted August 20, 2014 If he ever retires. They would be silly to hire the other options :-). Maybe I should apply. Miss the NW. Just kidding ... About applying. Not about missing NW. you would have to take the CAQ.....:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G. Davenport Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 A perfect example of why its a silly test :-). But, I'm retired from practice so it doesn't matter. Or does it. ??? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyM2 Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Thanks everyone for the advice! I spoke more with the doc and he said he doesn't pay for interview costs because there's a substantial sign on bonus... Which is great but only if I get the job, of course. He did make it sound like I'm on the short list, but I'm not entirely sure. At this point, I'm willing to do just about whatever it takes to get into peds, but wanted to make sure I wasn't getting taken advantage of, and that I won't be devaluing PAs as a profession by accepting those terms! You have two choices: 1. Walk away. 2. Pay your own way and hope for the best. If it were me, knowing only what you have told us, I would decline for two reasons. First, the bit about the sign on bonus is a shameless come-on that falls into the b.s. category. Second, you ARE being taken advantage of but you aren't hurting the profession, only yourself if you don't get the job. What else might he pull on you when he offers the job, if he offers it? I guess that, in that event, you would get to see his definition of SUBSTANTIAL sign on bonus. Bet it's less than $5k. But then again, it's not me and you said you were willing to do just about whatever to get into peds, so...did I mention you have two choices? Sent from my Kindle Fire HDX using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalPA Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 A lil late to the party but if you want to get into peds think about your other options if you don't take the interview. How would you feel if there were no other avenues into peds? Would you always wonder? Lastly, I don't mean any disrespect at all but some of the responses are from people with many years of experience. I would imagine that that puts them on different footing as far as getting a dream job or walking away. Valuable insight nonetheless!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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